meet the coach behind Bologna’s success

After 59 years away from Europe’s main competition, the Bologna will compete again Champions League next season. The great achievement is attributed to the team’s excellent campaign in the Brazilian Championship, which guaranteed at least fifth place with 67 points. Behind the team’s success is the Italian-Brazilian Thiago Motta.

Despite having played for the Italian national team and not having played professional football in Brazil, Thiago Motta was born in the South American country. A native of São Bernardo do Campo from São Paulo, the former player has always had a strong bond with Italy, as he is the great-grandson of a European immigrant and has always been linked to his family roots.

In Brazil, the still young midfielder played in the youth teams of the Juventus, a traditional club from the east of São Paulo, with a strong connection to its Italian roots. However, before debuting in the professional team, at just 17 years old, he reached the Barcelonaafter pleasing Catalan scouts at the Toulon Tournament, a championship he played for Brazilian under-17 team.

Thus, the midfielder began his career in European football. Still very young, just 21 years old, he had a brief spell with the Brazilian team, participating in two matches of the Gold Cupagainst Honduras It is Mexico. However, that didn’t stop him from accepting the Italian national team’s invitation in 2011, when he made his debut for the Azzurri.

In his career as a player, Motta defended Barcelona, Madrid’s athletic, Genoa, Inter Milan It is PSG. As a coach, the Italian-Brazilian had two opportunities in Italian football, the most recent in Spezia, without much shine. However, this season, the commander led Bologna to a historic return to the Champions League and is speculated to take over the Juventus (from Turin, not the Mooca team).